This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
