This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
