This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
