This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
