This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
