It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
