This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.