This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
