It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
