It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is 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 (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
