It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
