This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable 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 cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
