It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
