It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. 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 delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly 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 very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
