It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
