It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
