This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. 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, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
