It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
