This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
