It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego 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 click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
