This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. 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, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
