This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.