It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
