This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
