It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
