It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
