It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
