It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
