It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
