It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
