This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
