This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge 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 surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
