This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
