This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: 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. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly 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 animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
