This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
