It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
