This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
