This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
