This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
