This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
