This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
