This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
