It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
