This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
