It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover 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. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
