This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
