It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
