This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, 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.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
