It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
