It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
