This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
