It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
