It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides 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 be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
