It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
