This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
