This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
