It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
