It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
