This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
