It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses 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 cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
