This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance 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 meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
