This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
