This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
