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 hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
