It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass 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 played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
