It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
