It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
