It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
