It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
