This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
