This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
