It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
