This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring 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 holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
