This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as 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 obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
