It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
