It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
