This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
