This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
