It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
