It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
