This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
