It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be 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 – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
