It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
