It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
