This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
