It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
