This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
