This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
