This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
