It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw 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, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
