This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
