This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
