This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
