This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
