This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation 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 portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship 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. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
