It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
