It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
