This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
