This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
