It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example 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 have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
