This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
