It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
