This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.