This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
