It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
