This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
