It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
