It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult 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, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
