This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
