It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes 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.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
