This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.