It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
