It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
