It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. 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 eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
