It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
