It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
