This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
