It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
