This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
