It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
