This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
