It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – 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 – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
