It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as 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 therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
