It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
