It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
