This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
