This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
