It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
