This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people 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 awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
