It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
