It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
