This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
