It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
