This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
