This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
