It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
