This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
