It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
