This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
