This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
