This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
