This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
