This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
