It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
