It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.