This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
