This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
