It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
