This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
