It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
