It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
