This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film 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 this December.
