This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
