It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
