This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
