This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
