It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
