It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, 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, given that Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
