This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
