This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
