It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal 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 can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
