It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
