It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
