It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
