It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
