This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
