This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
