It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
