This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
