This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, 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. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
