This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
