This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
