It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
