This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
