It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
