This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks 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, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
