This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
