This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
