This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
