It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
