This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
