This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
