This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
