This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
