This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
