This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
