It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
