It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
