This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries 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. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
