It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
