This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution 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 plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
