It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
