It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
