It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
