It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
