It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
