This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
