It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
