This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: 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, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
