It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
