It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
