This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
