It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
