This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game 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 seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
