This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.