This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
