This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
