This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
