This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
