This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
