It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
