This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
