This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
