It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
