It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
