It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
