It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
