It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. 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 offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
