It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
