It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
