It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
