It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
