It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
