This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
