It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
