It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
