This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
