It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
