This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.