It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic 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 warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
