This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain 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. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
