It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
