It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
