It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – 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 – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
