It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
