This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
