It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
