It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
