It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
