This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
