This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
