This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
