It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
