This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
