It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
