It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
