It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
