This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
