It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
