This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
