It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
