It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
