It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
