It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
