This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
