It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
