This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
