It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
