This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
