It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
