This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
