It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
