This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as 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, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
