This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
