It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
