It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon 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 canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
