This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
