It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly 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 the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
