It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
