It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example 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 have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution 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 adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
