It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
