It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
