It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
