This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
