This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
