It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
