It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.