It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
