It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
