This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: 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. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
