It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, 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 – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
