It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
