It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
