It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
