This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
