This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
