This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
