It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm 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. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
