It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
