It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
