It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
