This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
