It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
