It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
