It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
