This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
