It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles 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 – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers 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 be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
