This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
