This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
