It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite 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 bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
