It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
