It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
