This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
