It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
