This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
