It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
