This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
