It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
