It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
