This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
