This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
