This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass 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 a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
