This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (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 dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
