This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal 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. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
