It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
