It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
