This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
