This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
