This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
