This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
