It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
