It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by 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 surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
