This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
