This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
