This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
