It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character 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 – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
