This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
