This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
