It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
