It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
