This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes 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 luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
