It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
