This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
