It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
