It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
