This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
