This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
