This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
