It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – 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 holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
