It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
