This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, 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 light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
