This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
