This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
