It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
