This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
