It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
