This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
