This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
