This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
