This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
