It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
