This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
