It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
