This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
