It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
