This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
