It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
