It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
