This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
