It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on 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. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
