This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.