This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
