It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
