It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together 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 – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
