It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk 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. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
