This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
