This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm 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. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
