This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
