This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
