It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together 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 knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments 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 Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
