It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
