It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
