This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
