It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe 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, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
