This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
