This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple 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 uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
