It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
