It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
