This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
