It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
