This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
