It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
