This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering 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 would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
