It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
