This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
