This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
