This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
