It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
