It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
