This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
