This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
