This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
