It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
