It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
