It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
