It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
