This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
