It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
