It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
