This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
