This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses 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. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
