This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
