It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
