This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
