It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
