This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
