This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
