It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
