This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
