This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (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. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
