It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
