This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
