It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
