This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic 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 is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
