It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
