It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
