This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
