It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
