It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by 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. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
