This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
