This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
