It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
