It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
