It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
