This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
