It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
