This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
