This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
