This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
