This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
