It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes 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 dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
