This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits 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 certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
