It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
