It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks 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 can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
