It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
