This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
