This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. 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 precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
