It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
