This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
