It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
