It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
