It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
