This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
