It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
