This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
