This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
