This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
