It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
