It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
