It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
