It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
