It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
