It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside 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 an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
