This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains 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, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
