This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
