This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
