This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
