This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
