This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
