It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
