This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as 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 therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.