It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
