This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: 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 cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding 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 actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
