This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
