It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
