This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
