It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
