It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
