It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
