It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
