It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
