This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
