It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
