It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.