This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
