This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
