This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
