It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
