It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction 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, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
