It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
