This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
