It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
