It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
