It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
