This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
