This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
