This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
