It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with 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's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.