It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge 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 surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
