It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
