This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
