It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness 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. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
