This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
