This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
