It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
