This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
