This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
