This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
