This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
