It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
