This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
