This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed 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 belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. 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 offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
