This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
