This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
