This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
