It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
