This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, 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 on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
