This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
