It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
