This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
