It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
