It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – 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 holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
